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Thursday, May 30, 2013

Romeo Montague in Romeo and Juliet: Character Thursday (64)

Romeo was born in
one of the most respectable and wealthiest families in Verona around Middle
Ages, when family feud and vendetta coloured many Italian cities’ society and
culture. As the only son of Montague, I guess the family expected much from
Romeo to continue their generations of feud with the Capulet. From the scenes
in this play, it seems that quarrels that led to blood-shedding have almost become
everyday’s story in the streets of Verona. So Romeo must have been very
familiar with the atmosphere of violence within his family and friends.

From the beginning
I could see that he was a young man with a tender heart who read many poetry
books. Maybe his love to Rosaline is a way for Romeo to actualize his ideas of
love from the books he read. Maybe he didn’t actually and truly love the girl,
and that’s why her image slipped so quickly from his mind when he met Juliet.
If his love to Rosaline was a puppy love, now his love Juliet was a true and
much deeper one.

Romeo’s weakness
was perhaps his impulsiveness and the lack of emotion control. It’s clearly
showed from how his anger of Mercutio’s murder led him to take avenge to
Tybalt. Either he was too young to make consideration or the violent culture
where he has grown up led him to that sudden impulse. I believe if Romeo had
considered the matter just a few minutes before killing Tybalt, he might
remember his plan to make peace with the Capulets because he loved Juliet.
Maybe his consideration would prevent the blood-shed. But I doubt whether that
would mean much, as killing adversaries seemed to be ordinary business between the
two feud Houses.

Leonard Whiting in 1968 movie adaptation

Romeo’s impulsive
manner also appeared when he bravely sneaked into Juliet’s garden just to see
his lover, while his presence—if detected—would mean death! In the last scene, when
Romeo was very sad by the news that Juliet was dead, did not look for
confirmation of the news, and just took it as a truth before killing himself. Here
I think Romeo was a man who was controlled by his emotion, and when emotion
compelled him, his mind would be numbed.

But if Romeo did
not die young, I think he would live a very difficult life anyway. By that
quality of sentimental heart, Romeo would be torn between family’s expectation
and his conscience. Maybe Romeo should have been born as a female in that
situation, rather than a male! :P

That is my Character Thursday of this week, an analysis of
book character of my choice, who is yours?... Just put your post URL in the
linky below. Do you like to join us in discussing characters from books you
read? See the details of Character Thursday first.